What’s HOT :: South Florida (4/19-4/26)

Sidelines Sports Bar presents a 2012 Team Sidelines Charity Party from 6 to 9 pm. The event includes an exclusive open bar, catered Hors D’oeuvres, a DJ, a silent auction and much more. Admission is only $50 and all proceeds benefit Florida AIDS Walk.

Club Sugar presents Drag Wars featuring a special performance by Yara Sofia of RuPaul’s Drag race Season 3. The night is hosted by TP Lords with beats by DJ Alex Infiniti.

Friday, April 20

Florida’s largest gay country/western nightclub, Scandals Saloon, invites all cowboys, cowgirls and their admirers and friends to a foot stompin’, yee hawin’ rodeo weekend with free admission to an additional 1,500 sq ft of ranch party space as well as BMI recording artist Melissa Fuller and No Angel performing live Friday and Saturday night. As it is every year, this will be the biggest rodeo party in town!

Club Sugar presents the queen of comedy, Mariloly, for one night only. Fridays feature no cover and the hot sounds of DJ Juan Carlos.

The Stable presents a meet and greet with Mr. February of the 2012 men of HomoRodeo.com at 7 pm. They will also be doing a calendar model search throughout the evening for the 2013 calendar.

The Mix (2258 Wilton Drive...next to Alibi), designer men’s clothing at discounted prices, will be celebrating their grand opening tonight starting at 5 pm. The ribbon-cutting ceremony with local dignitaries will be at 6 pm and Wine will be served from 5-7 pm.

During Rodeo Weekend the Alibi will once again bring back their infamous mechanical bull and invites you to ride it tonight from 6-10 pm, Saturday from 4-10pm with special guest Tom Wolfe and Sunday from 3 to 9 pm.

Saturday, April 21

The 7th annual Sunshine Stampede starts today and goes through tomorrow. For more information see the feature in this magazine or go to SunshineStampede.com

Noche Latina Saturdays at the Manor in the Ivy Lounge and patio presents direct for RuPaul’s Season 3, Puerto Rican Yara Sofia performing live and in person. In addition, after performing, Yara will have Meet and Greet! The night will also star Viva Mirage and DJ Larry Larr. In the Main room they will feature a Cowboy Hoedown staring DJ Oren Nizri. As always 10 pm with no cover.

Wiltons Bier Garden presents their New Saturday T-Dance from 1 pm on with DJ Julian Marsh, Hot go-go boys dancing on the inside bar and much more. Directly following T-Dance they will feature a benefit for Shardee Ross to send her to the Miss US of A Classic 2012 pageant in Dallas Texas. The event will be hosted by Amanda Austin and feature over 15 popular female impersonators from South Florida, so go out and support one of our own!

The Club Fort Lauderdale presents video star Jason Sparks at 10 pm. Afterwards Jason and friends will be performing live and it will be simulcast on streaming websites. Afterwards DJ Steven Ponce takes over and spins hot music live!

Discotekka in association with Milancita present Waterworks 5.0 starring DJ’s Hans, Spin, Ion and Carlos G. In the main room there will be constant showers, the hip-hop room will be filled with foam and the patio will feature a pool and a water slide. Suggested attire is swimwear as you will get wet and if you get there before 1 am there is no cover!

Sunday, April 22

Smarty Pants presents their 7th Annual Chili Cook-off during Rodeo Weekend at 1 pm. Contestant entries must arrive before Noon and must be delivered in a crock pot. Judging will begin at 1 pm. Throughout the day they will have "Country Karaoke" inside. At the same time they will be having a fund raising event to benefit AIDS Organizations in Broward County. There will be a Basket of Cheer Raffle and they will also feature a Bar-B-Que in front of the bar. In addition to all this they will also be having "Rodeo Games" in the parking lot (Drag Race, Bull Riding and C*ck Ring Toss). Each winner of every heat will get a free drink card. The prizes for the chili cook-off are $100 and a trophy for 1st place, $50 and a trophy for 2nd place, and $25 and a trophy for 3rd place along with "Bragging Rights".

The Royal Palms presents their monthly Royal T from 2 to 7 pm.

The Pride Center presents "One Night In Bangkok" from 4 to 8 pm at Dapur, Asian Tapas and Lounge (1620 N Federal Highway). Tickets are $75 (limited to 200 people) and can be purchased at PrideCenterFloirda.org or by calling 954-463-9005.

Please join the Miami-Dade Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce and your business leaders in welcoming Ray Martinez as the newly appointed Miami Beach Police Chief. Chief Martinez will layout his plan for improving the MBPD. A Q & A session will follow. A strong supporter of the Chamber and the LGBT Community, Martinez, a 32-year law enforcement veteran who joined Miami Beach police as an assistant chief in 2001, bested almost 80 applicants from around the country and overcame a widespread inclination to hire from outside the MBPD.

The event takes place at the Miami Beach Convention Center (Ballroom D, enter Hall D) for a seated lunch provided by Centerplate. Registration begins at 11:30 am and Lunch to follow promptly at noon. Cost is $40 for members and $50 for non-members. For more information call 305-673-4440 or email: mdglcc@bellsouth.net

This Is Hot

A critically-acclaimed psychological drama depicting a family in crisis, Kawa debuts on DVD and Digital May 8th from WolfeVideo.com. The film follows Kawa, a successful businessman in Auckland, New Zealand, as he is forced to reveal his lifelong secret that he is gay. Adapted from the Witi Ihimaera novel "Nights in the Gardens of Spain" by writer/director Katie Wolfe, Kawa stars Calvin Tuteao (Once Were Warriors), Nathalie Bolt (District 9), George Henare (Once Were Warriors), Vicki Haughton (Whale Rider) and Dean O’Gorman (The Legend of Mary Worth). It is tradition that Kawariki (Calvin Tuteao) become the leader of the family now that his father is retiring.

A husband and father, he realizes that in order to lead with integrity, he must come out and be honest about his own life, even though it will test the boundaries of acceptance and unconditional love. Offering valuable insights into Maori traditions, family ideals and cultural values, this feature debut is rich and textured with emotional layers and stunning New Zealand landscapes. Kawa is in English (with optional closed captions) and has a running time of 77 minutes. The film is not rated. To rent or download Kawa it is available on multiple Internet, VOD and broadcast platforms for $24.95.

You can also see this fabulous and very well acted and written film as the opening night film for the Miami Gay and Lesbian Film Festival on Friday, April 27th. For more information go to MGLFF.com